Tool for selectively removing or installing connector ends of a clustered terminal assembly

ABSTRACT

Improved manually operable and remotely controlled tool for selectively  rving or installing connector ends of a clustered arrangement of interconnected cables of an electric terminal assembly. The tool is generally made up of hub means and opposed jaw means. One end of elongated sleeve means is affixed to the hub means while the other end is connected to first handle means. Shaft means is rotatably disposed in the sleeve means with one end of the shaft means affixed to cam means and the other end to second handle means that is freely disposed in an aperture of the first handle means. During tool use, the user normally grips both handle means and maneuvers the hub and jaw means between a series of cables on one side of an electric terminal assembly having a plurality of interconnected cables until the jaw means are disposed about a selected cable of the series of cables. Upon placement of the jaw means over the socket end of the selected cable, the second handle means is rotated for the purpose of securing the socket end between the jaw means and cam means. Then the tool is selectively moved in an axial and/or rotational direction for the purpose of effecting either assembly or disassembly of the associated socket/plug ends of at least one set of interconnected cables.

This invention concerns a manually operable tool for selectivelyremoving or installing connector ends of a clustered series of cables ofa terminal assembly; and more particularly, it relates to an improvedmanually operable and remotely controlled portable tool for selectivelyremoving or installing connector ends of a clustered series ofinterconnected cables of a terminal assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various tools have been designed in the past to meet the particularneeds in solv an assembly or disassembly problem. For example, U.S. Pat.No. 4,068,374 to J. R. Coler discloses a manual tool having adouble-handle and wedge-clamping arrangement for effecting eitherremoval or installation of a housing from a pair of electric contactmembers. The tool is generally made up b of a forwardly disposed wedgefor initially separating a pair of contact members of a circuit boardand the like. A pair of pivotally and resiliently mounted clampingelements are provided such that the wedge is interposed therebetween.One handle supports the wedge and the pair of clamping elements whilethe other handle is pivotally mounted and has a cam-shaped end forcontrolling the opening and closing of the clamping elements. When thetool is placed over a contact member housing, the contact members areseparated by the wedge and the other handle is actuated to grip thehousing for removal in an axial direction without causing abrasiveinjury to the contact member surfaces. Conversely, the tool willassemble a housing to a pair of contact members, since the tool wedgewill separate the pair of contact members prior to the housing beingfully assembled to the contact members. U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,736 to R. F.Fieburg et al. concerns a manual tool for selectively inserting orremoving electric leads from a multi-lead connector plug. The tool isgenerally made of a hand-grippable tool body. The body is provided witha finger-actuatable spring-biased slider. The outer end of the sliderincludes a movable finger-like jaw, the transverse section of which isin the shape of a semicircle. An opposed jaw also of semicircleconfiguration is affixed to the tool body. An electric-insulated lead isgripped between the jaws for the purpose of being either connected ordisassembled from any one of a series of pin connection openings of anelastomeric plug. By virtue of the elongated extent of the movable jawtogether with maneuvering of the tool in close or immediate proximity tothe plug, one or more leads is readily installed in or removed from itsassociated pin connection opening of the series thereof that areprovided in the plug.

Hand-service tools for effecting assembly and disassembly of componentshave a wide variety of shape, size and use. Despite this multitude oftools as evidenced by the aforediscussed prior art, advancingtechnology, particularly in the electric/electronic industry, create newproblems that render prior servicing tools ineffective. Thus, theseproblems create opportunities for innovative solutions. In the absenceof an existing tool meeting a particular problem of advanced technology,the use of advanced technology is limited. In the area of electricterminal assemblies for interfacing and interconnecting variouscomponents of one or more networks, a series of connections of differentsizes are frequently required and because of the limited spaceavailable, the series of different sized connections are normallyarranged in close-clustered relationship. Further, because of the designrequirements of the connections requiring a positive snap-lockconnection in order to maintain electric connection under all conditionsof terminal use, the clustered arrangement of the series of connectorsfor the plurality of interconnected different-size cables rendersassembly or disassembly of these connectors by currently available toolseither an impossible situation or an impractical approach. Further, noneof the prior art tools recognized the importance of an elongatedunitized tool for remote axial and/or rotatable control and selectiveaccess into a clustered arrangement of a series of interconnecteddifferent-size cables at an electric terminal so as to permit eitherconnection or disconnection of the tightly connected socket-plugconnections of the interconnected cables. In other words, by reason ofelectric/electronic networks being provided with increasing complexmultiple and different-sized cable terminal interconnections and havingmore difficult access or servicing requirements, an improved somewhatuniversal elongated and remotely operated unitized tool is needed inbeing able to service a variety of different-size cableinterconnections.

Accordingly, none of the aforediscussed prior art, whether taken aloneor in any combination, remotely suggest an improved elongated, manuallyoperable and unitized tool of lightweight construction for remote accessand selective axial and/or rotation control for effectingconnection/disconnection of any one of a plurality of different-sizesocket/plug connections in a clustered arrangement of a series ofinterconnected cables of an electric terminal. The tool is generallymade up of opposed and fixed jaws of special shape with a slottherebetween so as to accommodate and grip a wide range of socket endconnections of different diametrical sizes of a series of interconnectedcables to be serviced for one reason or another. A combined handle andsleeve arrangement is affixed at one end to the opposed jaws andremotely supports and controls the jaws so that they can be maneuveredinto and out of engagement with a socket end being serviced. A secondhandle is rotatably mounted within the first handle and is connected byshaft means to a rotatable cam for causing gripping of an engaged socketend between the cam and opposed jaws for the purpose of effecting eitherassembly or disassembly of the socket end of one cable from itsassociated plug end of an interconnected cable at an electric terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an improved manually operableelongated tool of unitized and lightweight construction that permits useby one with minimal skill in servicing socket-type connections of aseries of clustered and interconnected cables of an electric terminal.

Another obJect of the invention is to provide an improved manuallyoperable elongated tool of unitized and lightweight construction that,because of its special jaw-shaped end, is capable of handling a widerange of different-size socket connections for a series of clustered andinterconnected cable sections of an electric terminal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedmanually-operable elongated tool of simple construction that normallyrequires neither adjustment nor repair despite repeated use.

In summary, the improved manually-operable, elongated tool of unitizedand lightweight construction is generally made up of hub means andopposed fixed jaw means depending therefrom. The opposed jaw means areof elliptical shape so as to define an elliptically-shaped openingtherebetween. The opposed and relatively spaced free ends of the jawsdefine a slot therebetween in direct communication with the opening. Thelateral extent of the slot is less than the minor axis of the openingbut still of an extent that will accommodate a wide range ofdifferent-size cables. The socket end of a cable is accommodated andengaged by the tool in order to carry out service requirements of a setof interconnected cables at an electric terminal.

Sleeve means is affixed at one end to the hub means. A first handle ofapproximately O-shaped configuration is preferably affixed in offsetfashion to the other end of the sleeve means so as to provide the userof the tool with a pistol-like grip of the first handle during tool use.Shaft means is inserted in the sleeve means such that one end extendsbeyond the outer end of the hub means. An eccentric cam is affixed tothe shaft means outer end. The first handle is provided with an aperturefor freely receiving a second handle of block-like shape. The sleevemeans in being connected to the first handle is such that the interiorof the sleeve is in direct communication with the aperture of the firsthandle means. The other end of the shaft means is affixed to the secondhandle when it is inserted in the first-handle aperture

The jaw means are normally of such a longitudinal extent that the outerlongitudinal ends extend beyond the hub means. Because of this extent, agroove is provided in the top of the jaw means adjacent the hub means.The groove is in direct communication with the jaw-means opening. Sincethe groove has a lateral extent greater than the eccentricity of the cammeans, the cam means is free to enter both the groove and the jaw-meansopening during rotation of the shaft means. The slot between the jawmeans free ends is normally disposed in centered relation to the minoraxis of the jaw means opening. Also, the axes of the hub means and shaftmeans along with the minor axis of the jaw-means opening, all preferablylie in a common plane.

In an operative embodiment of the tool, a user grips the first andsecond handles in pistol-like fashion and maneuvers the tool between aseries of interconnected and clustered cable means (usually of differentcross sectional size) on one side of an electric terminal until theintended set of interconnected cable means to be serviced is alignedwith the jaw end of the tool. The tool is maneuvered until the socketend of the selected cable means on one side of the terminal is insertedthrough the slot and arranged in the opening such that the jaw means areloosely disposed about the inserted socket end. The second handle isthen rotated relative to the first handle until the cam engages aportion of the socket end. At the same time, the jaw means engageopposed and other spaced portions of the inserted socket end so that thesocket end is positively gripped between the cam means and jaw means.With this grippage, the tool is further maneuvered by the user so as tocause selective rotative and/or axial movement of the tool-grippedsocket end of one cable in relation to its associated plug end ofanother and interconnected cable of the set of interconnected cables soas to cause disconnection of same from its associated plug end. Afterdisconnection of the socket end, the portable tool can be remotely andcontrollably operated in reverse fashion for assembling the socket endto its associated plug end.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparenthereinafter when the detailed description of the invention is taken intoaccount with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away of an improvedmanually operable elongated tool of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view with parts added as taken along 2--2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view taken within the bounds ofencompassing line 3--3 of FIG. 1 and with parts broken away andillustrates further details of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved tool of the invention inconjunction with a representative diagrammatic perspective view of anelectric terminal assembly for a series of interconnected cables andillustrates an operative embodiment of the tool in relation to one cableof a set of interconnected cables of the series of interconnected cablesof the assembly.

FIG. 5 is a combined fragmented diagrammatic and longitudinal sectionalview of a representative socket-plug connection of one set ofinterconnected cables of the electric terminal assembly and illustratesthe connection in an open position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a subassembly of theconnection.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a component of the connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With further reference to FIG. 1, a manually operable and remotelycontrolled tool 10 is provided for use with a wide range ofdifferent-size cables. The tool is generally made up of a hub 12 andopposed Jaws 14 depending therefrom. The Jaws are of special shape anddefine an elliptical-shaped opening 16 therebetween. A slot 18 extendsbetween the free ends of the jaws 14 and is in direct communication withopening 16. One of the advantages of the slot is that it permits quickrelease or attachment of the tool from a selected cable during tool use.An elongated sleeve 20 is connected to the hub and is preferably alignedwith the hub central axis. A shaft 22 is rotatably disposed in thesleeve such that one end extends through and beyond the hub and isaffixed to a rotatable eccentric cam 24. As best shown in FIG. 2, toolopening 16 is of elliptical shape such that the minor axis of theopening along with the axes of the hub and shaft 22 all preferably liein a common plane. Also, slot 18 between the opposed free ends of jaws14 is arranged in centered relation to the minor axis of opening 16.

A first handle 26 of approximately O-shaped configuration is affixed tothe other end of the sleeve. As best shown in FIG. 3, one major linkportion of handle 26 is provided with a bore 28 for receiving the end ofsleeve 20. The interior of sleeve 20 is in direct communication withaperture 30 of the first handle. As evident from FIG. 3, bore 28 isdisposed at the upper end of handle 26 and thus is offset from thetransverse axis of handle 26. By reason of the offsetness of the handlein relation to sleeve 20, the user can grasp handle 26 in pistol-likefashion upon maneuvering of tool 10 during use.

A second handle 32 of preferably solid construction and block like shapeis freely inserted in aperture 30 and affixed at its upper end on oneside thereof to the other end of shaft 22. Second handle 32 is rotatablein either direction about the axis of shaft 22. Handle 32 in rotatingabout shaft axis 22 moves in a plane transverse of handle 26 and isarranged at a right angle to the axis of shaft 22. Further, rotation ofsecond handle 32 in either direction about the shaft axis also causescorresponding rotation of cam 24. If desired, a coil spring (not shown)can be interposed between and interconnected to sleeve 20 and shaft 22in appropriate fashion so as to provide a bias to handle 32 and urgesame to one position such as shown in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 4, tool 10 is intended to be preferably used withan electric terminal assembly such as, e.g., a terminal assembly 34having an array of a series of seven (7) sets of relatively spaced andclustered interconnected cable sections 36 on opposite sides of theassembly. Although only one side of assembly 34 is depicted in FIG. 4,it is evident that each one of the cable sections is of different sizein cross section and thus the socket end of each cable section of theseries of cable sections 36 is also of different size. Slot 18 has alateral extent greater than the diameter of any cable section of theseries and is freely inserted thereover. As further evident in FIG. 4,tool 10 has been maneuvered by the user so that it is inserted betweenthe terminal ends of certain cable sections of the series from a remotelocation outside of the clustered series of cable sections 36 until slot18 at the jaw end of the tool is inserted over a given and selectedcable section 38. At this time, jaws 14 are advanced relative to cablesection 38 therebetween until the jaws encompass and initially engagesocket end 40 of cable section 38.

In order to assure ample grippage by jaws 14 of socket end 40 to beassembled or disassembled, each jaw is provided with a longitudinalextended portion that extends beyond the outer end of hub 12 as bestshown in FIG. 1. By reason of these jaw-extended portions, a groove 42is provided therebetween at the hub end of jaws 14 as best shown in FIG.2. Groove 42 has a lateral extent greater than the eccentricity of cam24. Hence, upon rotation of shaft 24, cam 24 is freely rotatable so thatcam 24 freely advances into and out of the upper end of opening 16without becoming bound between the opposed wall portions of jaws 14 thatdefine groove 42 therebetween.

With tool 10 in the initial engaging position of FIG. 4, second handle32 is rotated by the user thereby rotating shaft 22 and cam 24 until thecam engages an upper portion of socket 40 and also forces the socketinto engagement with opposed and spaced lower portions of jaws 14adjacent slot 18 (as best shown in FIG. 2). At the same time, with theuser holding cam 24 in position for grippingly engaging socket 40between cam 24 and jaws 14, the user can further maneuver the tool bygrasping both handles 26 and 32 for causing selective axial androtatable motions relative to and about the axis of sleeve 20 so as toeffect assembly and/or disassembly of socket 40 from its associated plugof one set of interconnected cable sections of assembly 34 as will nowbe described.

With reference to FIG. 5, an enlarged longitudinal sectional andfragmented diagrammatic view of an appropriate socket/plug connector 44is shown that can be used for periodically coupling or decoupling oneset or a pair of interconnectable cable sections 38 and 39 across theplug interface support 46 of a terminal assembly 34 Socket 48 ofconnector 44 is generally made of a housing 50. The reduced end ofhousing 50 is provided with an opening 51 for receiving the connectingsleeve 52 of a plug 54 to connector 44. The outer periphery of thetrailing end of plug sleeve 52 is provided with a series ofcircumferentially spaced lugs 56 of different arcuate extent (only twolugs 56 of the series being shown in section). Each lug 56 is providedwith an outwardly extending radial flange 58. The reduced and outer endof housing 50 in defining opening 51 is provided with an inwardlydirected annular lip 60. The inner peripheral surface of lip 60 isprovided with a series of circumferentially spaced lugs 62 of differentarcuate extent that are arranged to longitudinally align with the seriesof grooves (not shown) interposed between the series of lugs 56 of plug54. When each socket lug 62 is aligned with its associated plug groove,each one of the series of plug lugs 56 is aligned with its respectivesocket recess 64 of the series of socket recesses 64 interposed betweenadjoining socket lugs 62 of the series thereof.

Socket 48 is provided with an inner selectively advanceable androtatable subassembly 66 for effecting positive electricconnection/disconnection between socket 48 and plug 54. Subassembly 66is generally made up of an outer sleeve 68 and a star-shaped element 70affixed to the enlarged end of sleeve 68 as best shown in FIG. 6. Anouter annular surface 70 at the reduced end of sleeve 68 is slidablyconnected to the inner annular surface 71 at the reduced end of housing50.

An inner sleeve 72 is rotatably connected to outer sleeve 68 butrestrained for limited axial movement in relation thereto. To this end,sleeve 72 is provided with a lug 74 for engaging an internal annularcam-shaped groove 75 of sleeve 68 interposed between the ends of itsinternal annular surface 76. The inner periphery of sleeve 72 at itsouter end is provided with a series of circumferentially inwardlyextending radial lugs 78 of different arcuate extent. These series oflugs 78 correspond to and are longitudinally aligned with the series oflugs 62 of housing 50. When plug 54 is initially axially connected tosocket 48, plug sleeve 52 slidably interfits in the annular recessbetween the inner annular surface of inner sleeve 72 and the outerannular surface of rod-shaped inner electric insulator body 80 ofelastomeric material of subassembly 68.

Body 80 at its outer end is provided with a series of fourlongitudinally extending and circumferentially spaced fingers 82 as bestshown in FIG. 7. Another electric insulator body 84 of elastomericmaterial is connected to and inserted in the finger end of body 80. Body84 between its ends is provided with an outwardly extending annular rib86. Rib 86 is cut away on its outer periphery to provide a series offour circumferentially spaced radial fingers 88. The outer periphery ofeach finger 88 is slidably connected to the inner annular surface ofhousing 50 at its enlarged end.

A series of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves 96are provided in body 84 between its enlarged end and rib 86. The seriesof grooves 96 are arranged in alignment with a series ofcircumferentially spaced arcuate slots 94 that are provided in the innerportions of rib 86. The inwardly directed radial flange 98 of eachfinger 82 is slidably arranged in its associated groove 96 so as topermit limited axial relative movement between elastomeric bodies 80 and84 during use of socket 50.

A ferrule 98 is affixed to body 84 at its enlarged outer end and permitsconnection of the end of a cable section 38 thereto as depicted in FIG.5. An inward annular flange 90 at the inner end of housing 50 and asplit ring 92 are interconnected to the outward annular flange offerrule 98.

Each body 80 and 84 is provided with a separate series of four axiallyaligned openings (only three of which are shown) for receiving theopposed ends of a plurality of elongated electric conducting metal pins100. When socket 50 is initially axially connected to plug 54, snap-locklug flanges 58 of plug 54 are disposed inside of the inner annularshoulder of flange 60 at the reduced end of socket sleeve 50. At thesame time, the series of lugs 56 of plug 54 are also interfitted betweenand interconnected to the series of lugs 78 of socket sleeve 68. Becauseof this connection between socket and plug sleeves 72 and 52, rotationof socket housing 50 causes inner sleeve pin 74 of subassembly 66 toaxially advance outer sleeve 68 thereof. Advancement of sleeve 68 alsoadvances inner elastomeric body 80 until it abuts the exposed end faceof inner elastomeric body 102 of plug 54. Continued rotation of sockethousing 50 causes body 84 to advance relative to body 80 until theforward ends of the series of electric contact pins 100 are abutting theouter ends of the series of electric contact pins 104 of plug 54 therebyestablishing a positive electric connection between socket 48 and itsassociated plug 54 of a terminal assembly 34.

In view of the foregoing, it is evident even though the socket plugconnection of a terminal may be of complex design, such asaforedescribed, tool 10 of the invention advantageously positivelyengages the outer housing of a socket from a remote location to effectcontrolled and precise axial and rotational movements of the socketrelative to the plug so as to effect either connection or disconnectionof the socket from the plug. Such connection or disconnection duringtool use is effected with minimal difficulty, skill and effort by theuser. Moreover, regardless of the socket/plug design, even as describedabove as an example, the tool, because of its elliptically shaped,opposed and fixed jaws, accommodates a wide range of diametrical sizesin cable sections This accommodation usually enables the user of thetool to only need one tool for a terminal to be serviced. Thus, the toolfor the most part is universal in application.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A manually operable tool for periodicallyinstalling or removing a socket end of a cable means from its associatedplug end of another and interconnected cable means of a plurality ofclustered and interconnected cable means of an electric terminalassembly, said tool comprising:housing means having hub means andopposed fixed jaw means depending from the hub means, the opposed jawmeans defining an elliptical-shaped opening therebetween for receivingand engaging various diametrical sizes of socket ends, the opposed freeends of the jaw means being spaced relative to each other so as todefine a slot therebetween such that the slot is in direct opencommunication with the opening, sleeve means connected to the hub meansat one end thereof, first handle means connected to the other end of thesleeve means, said first handle means having an aperture therein indirect open communication with the interior of said sleeve means, saidfirst handle means together with said sleeve means for supporting thejaw means and for assisting in maneuvering the jaw means when insertedbetween a series of cable means of an electric terminal assembly on oneside thereof and being selectively disposed over one of the cable meansof the series by the one cable means being inserted through the slotinto the opening between the jaw means so that the jaw means can bemaneuvered along the cable means until the jaw means initially encompassand loosely engage the socket end of the selected one cable means, theencompassed socket end forming part of a socket-plug connection betweeninterconnected cable means of the assembly, shaft means rotatablymounted in the interior of said sleeve means between its ends, one endof said shaft means extending beyond the outer end of said hub means,the other end of said shaft means extending into the aperture of saidhandle means, cam means eccentrically connected to the one end of saidshaft means and arranged to be partially and selectively inserted in theopening between the jaw means and for grippingly engaging a portion ofthe socket end of the one selected cable means inserted in the opening,and second handle means inserted in the aperture of said first handlemeans and connected to the other end of said shaft means, said secondhandle means being rotatable in either direction about the axis of theshaft means in relation to the first handle means when both handle meansare selectively gripped and the second handle means is rotated relativeto said first handle means such that the socket end of the one selectedcable means inserted in the opening of the jaw means is grippinglyengaged at one portion thereof by said cam means while the jaw meanssimultaneously grippingly engage opposed spaced portions of the socketend of the one selected cable means so as to enable selective rotationand axial movement of the tool-gripped socket end of the one selectedcable means in relation to its associated plug end of the interconnectedcable means for the purpose of effecting either connection ordisconnection of the socket end from its associated plug end during tooluse.
 2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slot is disposed incentered relation to an axis of the opening.
 3. A tool as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the slot is disposed in centered relation to the minoraxis of the opening.
 4. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein thesleeve means is connected to the hub means in centered relation thereto.5. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein an axis of the opening and theaxes of both the sleeve and hub means all lie in a common plane.
 6. Atool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the jaw means extend outwardlybeyond the outer end of said hub means; wherein the jaw means are alsoprovided with a groove that is disposed adjacent the hub means that isarranged in direct open communication with the opening, and that isspaced from the slot in the jaw means; and wherein the groove is of anextent for freely receiving the cam means upon rotation of said shaftmeans during tool use.
 7. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein theslot of said jaw means has an extent less than the extent of the minoraxis of the opening.
 8. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein thefirst-handle means approximates an O-shaped configuration.
 9. A tool asset forth in claim 1 wherein the second handle means is of block-likeshape.
 10. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first handle meansis connected to the sleeve means such that axes of the sleeve means andthe first handle means are in offset relationship to each other.